Pagan v. Pafumi et al

Filing
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT
LUIS PAGAN
CIVIL CASE NO.
3:13cv166 (JCH)
v.
MICHAEL PAFUMI, ET AL.
MAY 14, 2013
RULING AND ORDER RE: MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
(DOC. NO. 3) AND INITIAL REVIEW OF COMPLAINT (DOC. NO. 1)
The plaintiff, Luis Pagan, is currently incarcerated at the MacDougall-Walker
Correctional Institution in Suffield, Connecticut. He filed this civil action pro se pursuant
to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Pagan names the following individuals as defendants:
Lieutenants Michael Pafumi and Bujnicki, Captains Dennis Marinelli and Nelson Correa,
Warden Edward Maldonado, Correctional Officer Raines and District Administrator John
Doe. As a preliminary matter, the court considers Pagan's motion seeking injunctive
relief.
I.
MOTION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF [DOC NO. 3]
Pagan states that he is in danger of being attacked by other prisoners,
particularly by inmates in a security risk group of which he is no longer an active
member. He claims that he was recently assaulted by a cellmate based on rumors
circulated by defendants Pafumi and Correa that he is a snitch and a child molester. He
alleges that other inmates at Northern Correctional Institution (“Northern”) have verbally
threatened to harm him.
He asks that the defendants place him on single cell status and either ensure
that he has no contact with gang members or remove him from Security Risk Group
Threat Member status.
The Second Circuit has held that an inmate’s request for injunctive relief against
correctional staff or conditions of confinement at a particular correctional institution
becomes moot when the inmate is discharged or transferred to a different correctional
institution. See Martin-Trigona v. Shiff, 702 F.2d 380, 386 (2d Cir. 1983) (“The hallmark
of a moot case or controversy is that the relief sought can no longer be given or is no
longer needed”); Mawhinney v. Henderson, 542 F.2d 1, 2 (2d Cir. 1976) (fact that
inmate “no longer incarcerated at Auburn, his request for injunction restraining officials
at Auburn from violating his civil rights is moot”). Pagan is currently incarcerated at
MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield, Connecticut. Accordingly, the
court concludes that Pagan's request for injunctive relief pertaining to conditions of
confinement at Northern is moot.
Furthermore, the court must have in personam jurisdiction over an individual
before it can validly enter an injunction against him or her. See Doctor’s Assocs., Inc. v.
Reinert & Duree, P.C., 191 F.3d 297, 302 (2d Cir. 1999); 11A Charles A. Wright, Arthur
R. Miller & Mary Kay Kane, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2956, at 335 (2d ed.
2001) (“A court ordinarily does not have power to issue an order against a person who
is not a party and over whom it has not acquired in personam jurisdiction.”); Fed. R. Civ.
P. 65(d) (providing, in pertinent part, that “[e]very order granting an injunction . . . binds
only [those] who receive actual notice of it by personal service or otherwise . . . .”). To
the extent that Pagan seeks injunctive relief from prison officials at MacDougall-Walker
Correctional Institution, the court lacks in personam jurisdiction over them. All
defendants are identified as working at Northern, except for one defendant, who is
identified as working at Enfield. Thus, the court cannot enjoin their actions. For all of
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the reasons above, the Motion for Injunctive Relief (Doc. No. 3) is denied.
II.
COMPLAINT
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b), the Court must review prisoner civil
complaints against governmental actors and “dismiss . . . any portion of [a] complaint
[that] is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted,”
or that “seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.” Id.
This requirement applies both where the inmate has paid the filing fee and where he is
proceeding in forma pauperis. See Carr v. Dvorin, 171 F.3d 115 (2d Cir. 1999) (per
curiam). Rule 8 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires that a complaint
contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to
relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2).
Although detailed allegations are not required, “a complaint must contain
sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its
face. A claim has facial plausibility when a plaintiff pleads factual content that allows
the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the
misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (internal quotation
marks and citations omitted). A complaint that includes only “‘labels and conclusions’ or
‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action,’” or “‘naked assertion[s]’
devoid of ‘further factual enhancement,’” does not meet the facial plausibility standard.
Id. (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 557 (2007)). Although courts
still have an obligation to liberally construe a pro se complaint, see Harris v. Mills, 572
F.3d 66, 72 (2d Cir. 2009), the complaint must include sufficient factual allegations to
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meet the standard of facial plausibility.
Pagan alleges as follows: On December 26, 2011, at Northern, his cellmate
assaulted him, causing injuries to his lips, teeth and face. Prior to the assault,
defendants Pafumi and Correa repeatedly told Pagan's cellmate that Pagan was a
snitch and a child molester. Pagan claims that the assault was the result of his
cellmate’s belief that Pagan was a snitch and child molester.
Pagan did not seek assistance or treatment for his injuries until defendant Raines
walked by Pagan's cell after the assault. Defendant Raines noticed blood on Pagan's
shirt and asked what happened. Pagan related that he had fallen from his bunk and
asked for medical treatment. Defendant Raines said that he would call the medical
department to come down and evaluate Pagan.
A nurse from the medical department arrived forty-five minutes later and escorted
Pagan to the medical unit. The nurse examined and evaluated Pagan's injuries, but
determined that Pagan would require treatment at the University of Connecticut Health
Center (“UCONN”). Defendant Raines escorted Pagan back to his cell to await
transport to UCONN.
Approximately two hours later, officers transported Pagan to UCONN. Pagan
informed the nurse that he had sustained his injuries when he fell from the bunk in his
cell. A physician treated Pagan's injuries, but informed him that the damage to his teeth
would have to be addressed by the dental department at Northern.
Upon his arrival back at Northern, medical staff evaluated Pagan and escorted
him to a cell in the medical unit. Medical staff prescribed medication, ice packs for the
pain, and a liquid diet. Dental staff examined and treated Pagan at a later date.
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In January 2012, Pagan received a written apology from the inmate who had
attacked him. In the letter, the inmate indicated that defendants Pafumi and Correa had
repeatedly told him that Pagan was a child molester or a snitch, but he now realized that
information was untrue.
On January 23, 2012, defendant Pafumi told other inmates that Pagan was a
snitch. Pagan wrote to defendant Marinelli informing him of defendant Pafumi’s
comments made on January 23, 2012. Defendant Marinelli responded that defendant
Pafumi had denied any unprofessional conduct and that Pagan had instigated any
harassment against him. Pagan also wrote to defendant Maldanado, but Maldanado
did not respond to Pagan.
Defendant Bujnicki issued Pagan a disciplinary ticket for fighting with his
cellmate. Prison officials subsequently dismissed the ticket.
Pagan filed a grievance about the December 2011 assault and the false rumors
disseminated by defendant Pafumi in January 2012. In response, Warden Maldonado
indicated that there was no evidence to support Pagan's allegations. Pagan appealed
the denial of the grievance. District Administrator John Doe denied the appeal because
Pagan's allegations could not be substantiated.
Pagan claims that defendant Raines should have removed him from the cell after
observing blood on his shirt and suspecting that he had been in a fight with his cellmate.
Pagan also alleges that defendant Bujnicki should have removed him from his cell
during the time period he was waiting to be transported to UCONN. Pagan concedes,
however, that he told all correctional and medical personnel at Northern and UCONN
that he had sustained his injuries when he fell from his bunk. There is no allegation that
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Pagan put any of the defendants on notice that he might suffer further injury from his
cellmate if he remained in the cell after he was allegedly assaulted by the cellmate.
Thus, Pagan has not alleged that any of the defendants were deliberately indifferent to
his safety when they did not immediately remove him from the cell after they became
aware of his injuries or when they escorted him back to this cell to wait to be transferred
to UCONN later that morning. The claims against defendants Raines and Bujnicki for
deliberate indifference to his safety are therefore dismissed.
Pagan's claim that defendant Bujnicki issued him a disciplinary report for fighting
with his cellmate fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. False
accusations, without more, are not cognizable in a section 1983 action. Inmates "have
no constitutionally guaranteed immunity from being falsely or wrongly accused of
conduct which may result in the deprivation of a protected liberty interest." Freeman v.
Rideout, 808 F.2d 949, 951 (2d Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 485 U.S. 982 (1988).
Furthermore, “[t]he filing of a false report does not, of itself, implicate the guard who filed
it in constitutional violations which occur at a subsequent disciplinary hearing.” Williams
v. Smith, 781 F.2d 319, 324 (2d Cir. 1986) (citation omitted). An inmate’s protection
against false accusations lies in the procedural due process requirements to be applied
by prison officials who conduct the disciplinary hearing. See Wolff v. McDonnell, 418
U.S. 539, 564-66 (1974).
Here, Pagan concedes that the disciplinary ticket was subsequently dismissed.
Thus, the claim of false accusations against defendant Bujnicki lacks an arguable legal
basis and is dismissed. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1).
Pagan asserts no other claims against defendants Raines and Bujnicki. Thus, all
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claims against defendants Raines and Bujnicki are dismissed. See 28 U.S.C. §
1915A(b)(1).
Pagan contends that defendants Correa and Pafumi spread rumors about him in
retaliation for his filing of another lawsuit against them in July 2011. See Pagan v.
Quiros, et al., 3:11cv1134 (JCH). This allegation lacks a plausible basis.
Prison officials may not retaliate against inmates for exercising their constitutional
rights. To state a retaliation claim, a plaintiff must show that his conduct was protected
by the Constitution or federal law and that this protected conduct was a “substantial or
motivating factor” in the alleged retaliatory action by prison officials. Bennett v. Goord,
343 F.3d 133, 137 (2d Cir. 2003). Because claims of retaliation are easily fabricated,
the courts consider such claims with skepticism and require that they be supported by
specific facts; conclusory statements are not sufficient. See Flaherty v. Coughlin, 713
F.2d 10, 13 (2d Cir. 2003).
Pagan alleges no facts to suggest that the accusations by defendants Pafumi
and Correa that he was a snitch and a child molester were made in retaliation for his
filing a lawsuit in July 2011 against them. Pagan simply concludes that the accusations
must have been made for retaliatory reasons. See Complaint (Doc. No. 1) at 11. Thus,
Pagan has failed to plausibly allege a causal connection between the allegedly untrue
statements made by defendants Pafumi and Correa and his filing of a prior lawsuit
against them. The conclusory allegations of retaliation fail to state a claim upon which
relief may be granted and are dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1).
After careful review, the court determines that the case will proceed at this time
as to claims against defendants Pafumi and Correa based on when they allegedly
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spread false rumors about Pagan that led to his assault by a cellmate and the claims
that defendants Marinelli, Maldonado and Doe were deliberately indifferent to his safety
when they failed to take any action to correct or investigate this conduct after they were
made aware of it through letters and grievances.
To the extent that Pagan seeks monetary damages from these defendants in
their official capacities, the request is barred by the Eleventh Amendment. See
Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159, 169 (1985) (noting that the Eleventh Amendment,
which protects the state from suits for monetary relief, also protects state officials sued
for damages in their official capacity); Quern v. Jordan, 440 U.S. 332, 342–43 (1979)
(noting that section 1983 does not override a state’s Eleventh Amendment immunity).
All claims for monetary damages against defendants Pafumi, Correa, Maldonado,
Marinelli, and Doe, in their official capacities, are dismissed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
1915A(b)(2).
III.
ORDERS
The court enters the following orders:
(1)
The Motion for Injunctive Relief [Doc. No. 3] is DENIED. All claims
against defendants Raines and Bujnicki are DISMISSED. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1).
The claims for monetary damages against defendants Pafumi, Correa, Maldonado,
Marinelli, and Doe, in their official capacities, are DISMISSED pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
1915A(b)(2).
The claims of deliberate indifference to Pagan's safety will proceed against
defendants Pafumi, Correa, Marinelli, Maldonado, and Doe, in their individual capacities
and in their official capacities, to the extent that Pagan seeks injunctive and declaratory
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relief.
(2)
Within fourteen (14) days of this Order, the U.S. Marshals Service shall
serve the summons, a copy of the Complaint and this Order on defendants Pafumi,
Correa, Marinelli and Maldonado in their official capacities by delivering the necessary
documents in person to the Office of the Attorney General, 55 Elm Street, Hartford, CT
06141.
(3)
Within fourteen (14) days of this Order, the Clerk shall ascertain from
the Department of Correction Office of Legal Affairs the current work address for each
of the following defendants: Michael Pafumi, Nelson Correa, Dennis Marinelli, and
Edward Maldonado, in his individual capacity, and mail waiver of service of process
request packets to each defendant in his individual capacity at his current work address.
On the thirty-fifth (35th) day after mailing, the Pro Se Office shall report to the court on
the status of all waiver requests. If any defendant fails to return the waiver request, the
Clerk shall make arrangements for in-person service by the U.S. Marshals Service, and
the defendant shall be required to pay the costs of such service in accordance with
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(d).
(4)
The Clerk shall send a courtesy copy of the Complaint and this Order to
the Connecticut Attorney General and the Department of Correction Legal Affairs Unit.
(5)
Defendants shall file their response to the Complaint, either an answer or
motion to dismiss, within seventy (70) days from the date of this Order. If the
defendants choose to file an answer, they shall admit or deny the allegations and
respond to the cognizable claims recited above. They may also include any and all
additional defenses permitted by the Federal Rules.
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(6)
Discovery, pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 26 through
37, shall be completed within seven months (210 days) from the date of this Order.
Discovery requests need not be filed with the court.
(7)
All motions for summary judgment shall be filed within eight months
(240 days) from the date of this Order.
(8)
Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 7(a), a non-moving party must respond
to a dispositive motion within twenty-one (21) days of the date the motion was filed. If
no response is filed, or the response is not timely, the dispositive motion can be granted
absent objection.
(9)
Pagan is hereby notified that the U.S. Marshal cannot serve the
complaint on defendant District Administrator John Doe. Pagan will have sixty (60)
days from the date of this Order to conduct discovery and file a notice identifying this
defendant by name. If Pagan fails to file a notice within the time specified, the claims
against John Doe will be dismissed without further notice from the court pursuant to
Rule 4(m), Fed. R. Civ. P., and the case will proceed only as to the claims against
defendants Pafumi, Correa, Marinelli and Maldonado.
(10)
If Pagan changes his address at any time during the litigation of
this case, Local Court Rule 83.1(c)2 provides that he MUST notify the court. Failure to
do so can result in the dismissal of the case. Pagan must give notice of a new address
even if he is incarcerated. Pagan should write “PLEASE NOTE MY NEW ADDRESS.”
It is not enough to just put the new address on a letter without indicating that it is a new
address. If Pagan has more than one pending case, indicate the case numbers in the
notification of change of address. Pagan should also notify the defendant(s) or the
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attorney for the defendant(s), if appropriate, of his or her new address.
SO ORDERED.
Dated at New Haven, Connecticut this 14th day of May, 2013.
/s/ Janet C. Hall
Janet C. Hall
United States District Judge
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